Religious article with reinforced edges

ABSTRACT

A religious article with at least one reinforced edge, said reinforced edge comprising a strip of material which is capable of being stitched to the fabric from which the religious article is produced, said strip of material having a sufficiently high tensile strength such that said at least one reinforced edge is not able to be torn with two hands.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of textiles. More particularly, the invention relates to a religious article, particularly a four-cornered garment with braided fringes having a tapered neck opening, whose edges are reinforced with a strip of material having a relatively high tensile strength which is stitched to the fabric from which the religious article is produced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] According to the Jewish religion, males are obliged to wear a four cornered garment, hereinafter referred to as a “tallit katan.” FIG. 1 is a photograph of a typical tallit katan, generally designated by numeral 10, the periphery of which is produced with four corners 6, wherein a set of braided fringes 7 is attached to each corner 6. Tallit katan 10 is formed with head opening 12 so that the garment may be worn on one's upper body, with two corners positioned in front of and two corners positioned behind the wearer. Each longitudinal edge of the tallit katan may be provided with appendages produced from a set of warps without wefts tied together, hereinafter referred to as “unbraided fringes.”

[0003] A tallit katan is generally worn as an undergarment, with neck opening 14 positioned to the front of the wearer to provide ventilation, especially since a tallit katan is preferably made from wool, although other fabrics are acceptable as well. The exemplary neck opening is formed with a tapered V-shaped apex 15. Wool fibers are relatively short, and therefore yarn which is produced therefrom has a relatively low tensile strength. Over the course of time during which a tallit katan is worn and removed on a continuous basis, occasionally being stretched, stitching 17 may become frayed.

[0004] Referring now to FIG. 2, stress is concentrated at apex 15 of neck opening 14, and as can be readily seen, apex 15 is liable to be inadvertently torn as a result of a minimal stress. After the stitching of apex 15 is torn, fabric 18 in the vicinity of the apex becomes unprotected. As a result, fabric 18 tends to additionally tear, often resulting in tear line 19, which inwardly extends, i.e. in a direction towards a longitudinal edge of the tallit katan connecting two adjacent corners 6 (FIG. 1), from apex 15. A frayed or torn neck opening is not becoming in a religious article, and is esthetically unacceptable since the neck opening is at times visible when the shirt of the wearer is partially unbuttoned.

[0005] Some prior art religious articles provide reinforced edges by stitching a visible strip of cloth, such as a 65%/35% mixture of polyester and cotton. When a V-shaped neck opening is to be reinforced, a V-shaped strip is stitched onto the neck opening. Although the apex of the neck opening has a greater tensile strength with the addition of the strip of cloth, it nevertheless presents some drawbacks. Firstly, the visible strip is esthetically unacceptable. Secondly, the strength of the cloth is relatively low since cotton fibers of relatively low tensile strength are used and the cloth has a relatively low woven density of no more than 30 warps per centimeter. Thirdly, a piece of yarn at the apex of the strip is inevitably torn during the cutting thereof. An initial tear is therefore produced at the apex, which increases in size, due to shear and tensile stress.

[0006] A prior art tallit katan has not yet provided an article of manufacture whose neck opening cannot be easily torn or frayed.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tallit katan whose neck opening cannot be easily torn or frayed.

[0008] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a tallit katan with reinforced edges.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a tallit katan with reinforced edges which are not visible.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a tallit katan with reinforced edges with a relatively high tensile strength.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tallit katan with reinforced edges which can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides a religious article with at least one reinforced edge, said reinforced edge comprising a strip of material which is capable of being stitched to the fabric from which the religious article is produced, said strip of material having a sufficiently high tensile strength such that said at least one reinforced edge is not able to be torn with two hands.

[0014] The strip of material is preferably made from twisted polyester and not visible to an observer due to overlock stitching with which it is stitched to the fabric. The width of the strip ranges from 3-10 mm, and is preferably 6 mm. The thickness of the strip ranges from 0.25-0.5 mm, and is preferably 0.3 mm. The strip preferably has a woven density of at least 60 warps per centimeter. The width of a stitch ranges from 3-6 mm, and is preferably 5 mm.

[0015] In one aspect, the religious article is a tallit katan comprising a periphery produced with four corners, a set of braided fringes capable of being attached to each of said corners and a head opening. The tallit katan preferably further comprises a neck opening. The side edges of the neck opening preferably taper to a V-shaped or T-shaped apex. When the reinforced edge is the apex, the tensile strength of the apex is on the order of hundreds of kilograms, said tensile strength being measurable by application of a substantially linear tensile force coincident with the side edges of the neck opening and with the apex, said side edges being in a collinear disposition.

[0016] An outer edge of the strip is preferably positioned to be parallel with, and in close proximity to an outer edge of the fabric. An outer edge of the strip may be a fold.

[0017] Alternatively, the outer edge of the fabric is a fold formed from an original edge of the fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a photograph of a prior art tallit katan;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a photograph of a torn neck opening which results from the use of a prior art tallit katan;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a tallit katan utilizing reinforced edges in accordance with the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 4 is an enlargement of FIG. 3 showing the position of the reinforcement relative to the fabric from which a tallit katan is produced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 3 illustrates tallit katan 20 in accordance with the present invention, which is provided with reinforced edges 22 and neck opening 25, which terminates at V-shaped apex 26. The entire periphery of the garment, including that of head opening 24 and neck opening 25 are provided with reinforced edges 22. A reinforced edge may be effected with many different types of stitching, preferably of the overlock type, and for brevity these types of stitching will not be described since they are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0024] The side edges of neck opening 25 are designated by numerals 23 and 27. By bending side edges 23 and 27 to be in a substantially collinear disposition, the tensile strength of the apex may be measured by applying a substantially linear tensile force passing through the side edges and the apex. Due to the reinforcement, the tensile strength of edge 22 at V-shaped apex 26 is significantly increased. With the innovation of the present invention, the tensile strength at apex 26 is on the order of hundreds of kilograms, whereas in prior art garments it is less than 10 kg.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, edge 22 is reinforced by the addition of strip 28 of 100% polyester, or any other material which is flexible, yet is relatively inelastic and of a relatively high tensile strength. Strip 28 is preferably made from substantially infinite polyester fibers, which are twisted together to form strengthened pieces of yarn. The strip is further strengthened by being provided with a woven density of at least 60 warps per centimeter. Since a continuous strip is used to form the edges, even at an apex of a V-shaped neck opening, a stress concentration at the apex is not extant and yarn is not inevitably torn thereat during the cutting of the material.

[0026] Strip 28 is placed on top of fabric 33 and positioned such that outer edge 29 of the strip is parallel with, and in close proximity to, outer edge 31 of fabric 33. Stitch 32 permanently affixes strip 28 to fabric 33 such that strip is not visible to an observer. If so desired, outer edge 31 may be formed by folding the original edge of fabric 33. Likewise edge 29 may be formed by a fold. The width of strip 28 ranges from 3-10 mm, and is preferably 6 mm. The thickness of the strip ranges from 0.25-0.5 mm, and is preferably 0.3 mm. The width of stitch ranges from 3-6 mm, and is preferably 5 mm.

[0027] Any other religious article which tends to fray or tear may be advantageously provided with a reinforced edge in accordance with the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

[0028] A tallit katan produced from 100% sheep wool has a length of 135 cm, a width of 60 cm and a thickness of 0.5 mm. The head opening is rounded, and has a length of 18 cm and a width of 12 cm. The V-shaped neck opening inwardly extends for a length of 23 cm from the edge of the head opening, tapering from a width of 6 cm to an apex.

[0029] The edges of the tallit katan, including the head and neck openings, are all reinforced with a strip of polyester having a width of 6 mm and a thickness of 0.4 mm. The strip of polyester is woven with a weave pattern in which one weft is provided for each warp, with a woven density of 64 warps per centimeter. An overlock stitching of 3 threads having a width of 5 mm is used to stitch the strip to the woolen fabric.

EXAMPLE 2

[0030] A tallit katan produced from cotton has a length of 135 cm, a width of 60 cm and a thickness of 0.5 mm. The head opening is rounded, and has a length of 26 cm and a width of 18 cm. Due to the size of the head opening, a neck opening is not provided.

[0031] The edges of the tallit katan, including the head opening, are all reinforced with a strip of polyester having a width of 6 mm and a thickness of 0.3 mm. The stitching and the weave pattern are identical to those of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

[0032] A tallit katan produced from a mixture of 65% polyester and 35% cotton has a length of 135 cm, a width of 60 cm and a thickness of 0.5 mm. The head opening is rounded, and has a length of 18 cm and a width of 12 cm. The T-shaped neck opening inwardly extends for a length of 23 cm from the edge of the head opening and has a width of 0.5 cm. The longitudinal edges of the tallit katan are provided with unbraided fringes.

[0033] The edges of the tallit katan, including the head opening, are all reinforced with a strip of polyester having a width of 6 mm and a thickness of 0.3 mm. The stitching and the weave pattern are identical to those of Example 1.

[0034] While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A religious article with at least one reinforced edge, said reinforced edge comprising a strip of material which is capable of being stitched to the fabric from which the religious article is produced, said strip of material having a sufficiently high tensile strength such that said at least one reinforced edge is not able to be torn with two hands.
 2. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the strip is not visible to an observer due to overlock stitching with which it is stitched to the fabric.
 3. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the strip of material is made from polyester.
 4. The religious article of claim 3, wherein the strip of material is made from twisted polyester.
 5. The religious article of claim 3, wherein the strip of material is made from infinite polyester fibers.
 6. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the strip has a woven density of at least 60 warps per centimeter.
 7. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the width of the strip ranges from 3-10 mm.
 8. The religious article of claim 7, wherein the width of the strip is approximately 6 mm.
 9. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the strip ranges from 0.25-0.5 mm.
 10. The religious article of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the strip is approximately 0.3 mm.
 11. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the width of a stitch ranges from 3-6 mm.
 12. The religious article of claim 11, wherein the width of the stitch is approximately 5 mm.
 13. The religious article of claim 1, wherein the religious article is a tallit katan comprising a periphery produced with four corners, a set of braided fringes capable of being attached to each of said corners and a head opening.
 14. The religious article of claim 13, further comprising a neck opening.
 15. The religious article of claim 14, wherein side edges of the neck opening taper to a V-shaped apex.
 16. The religious article of claim 14, wherein the neck opening is T-shaped.
 17. The religious article of claim 15, wherein the tensile strength of the apex is on the order of hundreds of kilograms, said tensile strength being measurable by application of a substantially linear tensile force coincident with the side edges of the neck opening and with the apex, said side edges being in a collinear disposition.
 18. The religious article of claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the strip is parallel with, and in close proximity to an outer edge of the fabric.
 19. The religious article of claim 18, wherein the outer edge of the fabric is a fold formed from an original edge of the fabric.
 20. The religious article of claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the strip is a fold.
 21. The religious article of claim 13, further comprising unbraided fringes on longitudinal edges of the tallit katan. 